Up until today, Midtown St. Petersburg, one of the citys poorest neighborhoods, was what people call a food desert.

But at about 7:30 this morning a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market opened its doors for shoppers  many of whom lack transportation to travel outside of the area for fresh food and were forced to make many food purchases from over-priced convenience stores.

St. Pete City Council member Wengay Newton whose district covers part of Midtown celebrated the Grand Opening early this ...

Wal-Mart will open a neighborhood market in midtown St. Petersburg by January, providing 95 jobs and the areas only grocery store. Monday morning more than 200 people stood in intermittent rain waiting for their chance to apply for one of the spots in the new store. Mary Cummings got there at 6:30 to beat the crowd. The elderly African-American woman said from a lawn chair that she already has a job at a laundry mat, but isnt making enough money to support herself.

Groups from across the country protested Wal-Mart over the weekend as a show of solidarity with striking workers. Activists from the Tampa Bay area took their action to Pinellas Park on Friday at one of the big box retailerâs busiest stores. One man, Tyler Mitchell dressed as Santa Clause and stood in front of the storeâs main entrance asking shoppers to stand in solidarity with Wal-Mart employees, but was quickly asked to leave the property.

Wednesday, Occupy Wall Street called for a national day of action to shut down corporations. Movements worldwide have planned various non-violent demonstrations at some of the worldâs most profitable corporations. Members of Occupy Tampa are planning an action inside a Hillsborough County Wal-Mart at the 4:00 p.m. hour.

Two more Occupy Tampa members were arrested for trespassing last Wednesday night. Daniel Walford was arrested at the amphitheater on the west side of Kiley Garden, where he said police singled him out.

Eyewitnesses say they were surprised to see that even with such [a large crowd gathered to see the musical and poetic performances by local artists](https://www.facebook.com/events/2774678889...